What do to with all the pumpkins?

These folks know how to decorate for fall! I love driving by this building to see what innovative decorations they will come up with next! Seeing so many pumpkins (and gourds) around this building got me thinking – what can one do with pumpkins when the fall festivities are over? Personally, I toast the pumpkin seeds for one of my very favorite snacks. My “technique” is below. I hesitate to call it a recipe since I don’t even know the quantities – it is one of those things I just do! Using the seeds is great, but what about the rest of the pumpkin? I hate wasting something, especially something as good as pumpkin. Our teammate, Lindsey, went on a quest to discover some great uses for pumpkins post-Fall Festivities. She found 2 informative posts brimming with good ideas to put those pulpy pumpkins to good use. 10 Uses for your Pumpkin from Earth 911 and Pumpkin Uses from Huffington Post.

Marla’s toasted pumpkin seeds – preheat oven to 350 F – scrape the seeds out of the pumpkin(s) and separate from the pulp – rinse and drain seeds – dry seeds on clean towels for a few minutes – put seeds in a big mixing bowl – add just enough olive oil to lightly coat seeds – add sea salt (and other seasonings depending on your taste. A few of my favorites are garlic, cayenne and pepper, mixed or by themselves) – spread seeds out in thin layer on baking sheet(s) – roast seeds in oven for 5-7 minutes – stir seeds and return to oven for 5-7 minutes – watch the seeds and roast according to how crispy you like them – remove seeds from oven and let cool before serving